Scalable in Situ Diazomethane Generation in Continuous-Flow Reactors

Diazomethane is a valuable derivatizing agent but very difficult to handle for large-scale chemical transformations. We report here the base-induced decomposition of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea under continuous-flow conditions that enables the production up to 19 mol d(-1) of diazomethane, at a total flow rate of 53 mL min(-1).